Feeding Bacteria - Fishless Cycle

T

TDWagner

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Jan 11, 2006
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I'm SOOO close to finishing my fishless cycle. Ammonia levels drop from 3ppm to 0ppm in under 24 hours. Nitrite is falling as well and should zero out in the next couple of days.

The PROBLEM:
I'm going out of town for the weekend (leaving Friday morning and not coming home till Sunday night). I'm really worried about my bacteria colonies dying off while I'm gone and not dosing ammonia.

Any ideas?

I'm trying to figure out if it's worth trying to rig up some kind of slow drip system for the weekend (like a hospital IV), but I'm not sure how to pull it off and get the drip rate right.

Alternatively I could just triple-dose ammonia before I leave Friday morning and hope that sustains them for the weekend.

What do you think?
 
Is there no one (a neighbor?) that could stop by for you?

I wouldn't triple dose because your nitrite eaters don't like the higher ammonia and I think that might stall you cycle.

What about an automatic fish feeder? Are there ones that hold liquid foods? You could rig that with the ammonia while you are gone.
 
You could try putting in fish food, or a shrimp to produce a supply of ammonia (without overdosing) while you are gone.
 
Throw in some frozen fish food- just remember to clean up what's left when you get home on Sunday.
 
Well for only 2 days gone, I would just double up on the dose of ammonia. That should keep the cycle going for those 48 hours which is the maximum time you can starve the bacteria safely.

Put in 2x the dose you normally would add a few minutes before you leave. When you come back the ammonia will probably test at 0 with a slight nitrite spike.
 
Don't increase your dose!!!

There's an upper limit to what the bacteria can handle: you can kill bacteria with too much ammonia. The nitrite eaters are more sensitive to this than the ammonia eaters, but both groups can be killed off by an overdose.

The bacteria won't starve to death in two days. Some fish food on thursday is a good idea.
 
The beginning stages are fine at high ammonia levels. The second stage though...you don't want to go above 5ppm if you can help it. At least thats what the cycle article says. THe first group of bacteria you are growing is hardier than the second group.
 
The only fish food I have right now is just generic flakes. The idea is to add some flakes so that they decompose all weekend slowly releasing ammonia.

I'm not sure how much will be enough though. About a teaspoon? Suggestions?

Also, is there a way I can get it to settle in a tupperware container or something for easy cleanup when I get back? I don't really want it decomposing in my gravel, right?
 
Maybe in a some nylon hose. Shrimp are supposed to be really good for releasing ammonia too.
 
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